YSRCP lashes out at Chandrababu Naidu, calls him economic terrorist

AMARAVATI: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has lashed out at former Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and said that the latter’s arrest in connection with a scam in Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) is just the beginning of exposing Chandrababu for his mistakes.

The party leaders speaking from multiple locations on Monday, said that time had run out for Chandrababu Naidu, who earlier used to get stay orders in plenty of cases filed against him, including in the assigned lands scam, insider trading of Amaravati lands and several others. All were equal before the law and Chandrababu Naidu who was accused of a crime related to corruption would have to face due procedure. The YSRCP flayed TDP, its friendly media, Jana Sena and other opposition leaders for spreading falsehood over the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu who was the kingpin of the Rs 371-crore skill development scam.

Addressing the media in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Tourism and Culture RK Roja alleged that Chandrababu Naidu was a kingpin and an economic terrorist who had plundered the common man’s money and diverted the funds to several shell companies to benefit his henchmen. She said that TDP leaders should have called for a State-wide bandh almost a decade ago, when Chandrababu Naidu was caught in a cash for vote scam instead of calling for a bandh now, condemning the arrest of the latter in connection with a scam in AP Skill Development Corporation.

“People in Andhra Pradesh will never forget the false propaganda carried out by the TDP through its friendly media during the arrest of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in connection with an illegal assets case. For the last 12 years, YS Jagan was named ‘Jail Reddy’ from Chanchalguda Central Jail and now shall we call Chandrababu ‘Jail Chowdary’ from Rajamahendravaram Central Jail? One can remember YS Jagan with schemes introduced by him for the welfare of the poor but Chandrababu Naidu will be remembered for scams,” Roja said.

In Tadepalle, former minister and Machilipatnam MLA Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) alleged that Chandrababu had committed several scams and resorted to corruption since 1977. “It is highly impossible for any individual to divert the courts forever after committing mistakes. People in Andhra Pradesh are in a feeling that justice prevails following the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu,” he said.

Perni Nani also said that the skill development scam was only a tip of the iceberg and several scams done by Chandrababu Naidu would be unearthed soon and the latter was arrested by the APCID officials by following all the due procedures as per the law. He accused Chandrababu of seeking publicity for everything, as evident from his refusal of a chopper to shift him to Vijayawada from Nandyal.

Minister for Energy and Environment Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said that Chandrababu Naidu should stay healthy and face prosecution for several scams resorted to by him during the four decades of his political career. An inquiry was also being conducted into the scams orchestrated by the TDP president, including the Amaravati inner ring road and fibre grid scams and those proved guilty would also face the consequences. “We are not celebrating the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu. The one who celebrates will be the fans and followers of the former Chief Minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and TDP founder president Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao,” he said.

Minister for Irrigation Ambati Rambabu said, “Chandrababu Naidu, who has the impression that he can escape the long arm of the law by managing institutions, must realise that gone are the days of manipulation. The malicious campaign by TDP leaders, Pawan Kalyan and their friendly media over the arrest has failed to garner sympathy.” Agriculture Minister K Govardhan Reddy said in Nellore that the failure of the TDP bandh had proved that Chandrababu, who amassed Rs 2 lakh crore illegal wealth through various scams, had lost his credibility among the people.

Fisheries Minister Seediri Appala Raju said in Srikakulam that Chandrababu was caught red-handed in the scam and people won’t believe his crocodile tears as they were convinced of his involvement. Former Minister Kursala Kannababu told reporters at Kakinada that Naidu was also involved in scams relating to Capital construction, ESI, land acquisition for Capital, fibre grid and jaggery purchase. Education Minister Botcha Satyanarayana asked Chandrababu to quit politics after tendering an open apology to the people for his involvement in the scam.